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Cardboard Compost

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Cardboard Compost

Time:15 min Difficulty:Easy  

Did you know you can make your own sustainable compost bin? Yes! Don’t throw out that cardboard box! You can upcycle it and start making your own compost soil today.

Here’s what you need:

  • Large cardboard box
  • Duct tape or big adhesive tape
  • Peat-free soil
  • Shredded newspaper
  • Compostable materials (vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshell, grass clipping, dead leaves)
  • OPTIONAL: Extra cardboard

Here’s how you make it:

Step 1:

First, make sure your cardboard is secured. Tape the bottom and sides so it doesn’t come apart.

OPTIONAL: Reinforce the bottom of your box by putting extra cardboard inside.

TIP:

Most cardboard is compostable, making for an ideal base that can later be used in your gardening.
If you do not have a cardboard box for this activity, you can switch it for a bucket, container, tote bag or by cutting the top off of a large plastic bottle.

Step 2:

If you have big pieces of vegetables or fruit, cut or crush your material into smaller pieces so they compost better. Some items like citrus peels (lemons and oranges) can make for a strong-smelling compost if they aren’t cut up into smaller pieces to help them rot more effectively.

Step 3:

Add a layer of your soil, and layers of shredded newspaper and compostable material in the box. Mix it all together.

Step 4:

Set your box aside to give it time for the compost to be created. If you want to keep it outdoors, find a sheltered spot so rain doesn’t soak it. If you’re keeping it indoors, place your box in a warm, sunny area.

When not in use, keep the box closed or covered to keep moisture in.

TIP:

Come back and check your compost daily! Add more kitchen scraps or plant litter (fallen leaves, twigs, seeds or flowers) to it and stir again. If you see it drying out, you can spray a bit of water on the top layer.

For kitchen scraps, here’s a guide on what can and cannot be composted:

DO COMPOST

  • Vegetable scraps
  • Fruit scraps
  • Eggshells
  • Bread crusts
  • Any vegetarian leftovers
  • Wood chips
  • Shredded Newspaper
  • Cut up cardboard (small pieces)

DO NOT COMPOST

  • Meat (especially if you have pets)
  • Dairy (butter, milk, cheese, yoghurt)
  • Oil, fat, lard
  • Animal bones
  • Sick plants
  • Anything with salt (ex: pickles)
  • Peanut shells
  • Cigarettes

It can take 2 months or more for your compost to be created. Think of the plant food you will have created! You can use it on potted plants, or to grow herbs inside. If you have a garden, compost is a great basis for you to grow your own little farm!

Interested in learning more about compost? Why not give our compost quiz a try!

Heads Up, Earth Ranger: Don't share any personal details in your comments (like your last name, school name, or even age). The Earth Rangers team checks all comments to keep it safe and fun for everyone!

43 COMMENTS

  3. I will do it because earth ranger came to my school today and they had an armadillo and a turtle! Also I like the idea of having a cardboard compost because it saves the environment and wildlife in the universe. It’s just Soo cooooooool I love it.

  4. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

  6. Coooooool! Composting is awesome! It helps the environment, and it provides food for the worms! I have a worm hotel in my backyard made out of mud, I bet the worms that our currently staying there would love to make a new home in the compost!

  9. We already have made a big wooden compost bin in our backyard. We put grass clippings, banana peels, and apple cores in it. Lots of flies, worms, and other insects like to visit! I like composting. It is cool to see your compost slowly turn into ”soil”.

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